Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: Systematic Review.

Daniel Fuller, Emily Colwell, Jonathan Low, Kassia Orychock, Melissa Ann Tobin, Bo Simango, Richard Buote, Desiree Van Heerden, Hui Luan, Kimberley Cullen, Logan Slade, Nathan G A Taylor

September 2020 JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

Synopsis of Social media discussions

Several comments highlight the study’s findings by stating that commercial devices are unreliable for measuring energy expenditure and VO2max, often emphasizing the flaws in data and algorithms. The tone ranges from cautious skepticism to enthusiastic acknowledgment, using words like 'flawed,' 'errors,' and 'misleading,' which reflect both concern and recognition of the review’s importance in evaluating consumer health technology.

A
Agreement
 Moderate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the review's findings about the limited accuracy of consumer wearables, with some agreeing that they shouldn't be used for precise energy measurements.

I
Interest
 High level of interest

Posts express high curiosity, referencing the comprehensive nature of the study and sharing enthusiasm for its implications for fitness and health tracking.

E
Engagement
 High engagement

Many discussions delve into specifics, criticizing proprietary algorithms, mentioning device brands like Apple Watch and Fitbit, and debating the reliability issues, indicating deep engagement.

I
Impact
 Moderate level of impact

Posts suggest the review could significantly influence perceptions about wearable tech, with some considering it a 'game changer' for health monitoring practices.

Social Mentions

YouTube

7 Videos

Twitter

30 Posts

Blogs

3 Articles

News

56 Articles

Metrics

Video Views

14,370

Total Likes

191

Extended Reach

216,383

Social Features

96

Timeline: Posts about article

Top Social Media Posts

Posts referencing the article

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Apple Watchはじめとするスマートウォッチで測定される心拍数は正確なのか？　#applewatch

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Apple watchなどスマートウォッチが測定するの歩数計測、iphoneなどスマホ本体単体が測定する歩数計測はどの程度信頼できるのか？ その誤差は？#applewatch #iphone

Apple watchなどスマートウォッチが測定するの歩数計測、iphoneなどスマホ本体単体が測定する歩数計測はどの程度信頼できるのか？ その誤差は？#applewatch #iphone

布施 淳 (ウェルビーイングクリニック駒沢公園)

September 23, 2022

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  • babadooks
    @SupremeSukuna (Twitter)

    @FrempBets @nottween @trvywalk @JamessssRoss @a1ias86 @isoquince Fuller, D., Colwell, E., Low, J., et al. (2020). Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: Systematic Review. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(9), e18694. https://t.co/sEKIA8z3As
    view full post

    April 15, 2025

  • Charlotte Goodall
    @charlottegooda7 (Twitter)

    @medicinexthings https://t.co/fnoD6B6mRX Their algorithms are proprietary but they are based on flawed data to start with. Plus you can’t measure VO2max out of the lab without making some very dodgy approximations even if the basic data is right (it isn’t).
    view full post

    January 1, 2025

    2

  • 縄田佳志@Nealle
    @nawakei (Twitter)

    @AyatoShinohara Applewatchなどのウェアラブルデバイスの信頼性妥当性を検討したシステマティックレビュー https://t.co/cirIukY784
    view full post

    September 12, 2023

  • Nick Vardavas
    @vardavas (Twitter)

    1. Fuller D, et al. Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: Systematic Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020 Sep 8;8(9):e18694. doi: 10.2196/18694. PMID: 32897239; PMCID: PMC7509623.
    view full post

    April 18, 2023

    1

  • TheFrenchEpidemiologist
    @frenchepidemio (Twitter)

    Les applications de calcul de kcal sont mauvaises pour estimer la dépense énergétique (comparaison de l'appli vs la calorimétrie) Il y a un nombre non négligeable de prédictions avec des erreurs (Mean Percentage Error =MPE) supérieures à 50% ! https://t.co/O5OOMw8TjO https://t.co/DlNSpLtZkN
    view full post

    April 4, 2023

    16

  • Mike Matthews
    @muscleforlife (Twitter)

    This study isn’t the first to show that commercially available activity trackers shouldn’t be used to estimate energy expenditure, either. https://t.co/MhuwakmFsF https://t.co/R5L2IEJe7o
    view full post

    September 24, 2022

    2

  • Jun Fuse＠循環器内科医
    @jfuse0320 (Twitter)

    測定精度が高いスマートウォッチ 歩数→Fitbit、Apple Watch、Samsung 心拍数→Apple Watch、Garmin エネルギー消費→精度の高いものなし https://t.co/GQHeZQFltd ただし、デバイスは常にアップデートしています。
    view full post

    May 26, 2021

    2

  • Tactical Research GRoup
    @_T_R_Gr_ (Twitter)

    RT @GDLeahy: Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: S…
    view full post

    May 26, 2021

    5

  • EskeleThor
    @EskeleThor (Twitter)

    RT @GDLeahy: Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: S…
    view full post

    May 26, 2021

    5

  • Chris Boyer, DPT, OCS, Dip.MDT
    @chrisboyerPT (Twitter)

    RT @GDLeahy: Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: S…
    view full post

    May 26, 2021

    5

  • SystematicReviewBot
    @EvidenceRobot (Twitter)

    RT @GDLeahy: Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: S…
    view full post

    May 25, 2021

    5

  • GDLeahy
    @GDLeahy (Twitter)

    Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: Systematic Review https://t.co/0w7paiBjJ3
    view full post

    May 25, 2021

    4

    5

  • SystematicReviewBot
    @EvidenceRobot (Twitter)

    RT @ohd_d: どのウェアラブルデバイスを買うか悩んでるならsystematic reviewを読もう。 さらに悩むことになるかもw Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices…
    view full post

    January 14, 2021

    1

  • OHD
    @ohd_d (Twitter)

    どのウェアラブルデバイスを買うか悩んでるならsystematic reviewを読もう。 さらに悩むことになるかもw Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: Systematic Review https://t.co/0sQ18yjTV0
    view full post

    January 14, 2021

    1

  • Kristof De Mey
    @krdemey (Twitter)

    @docgoble Nice one.
    view full post

    September 30, 2020

  • Kenneth Lee
    @KennyPharmPhD (Twitter)

    Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: Systematic Review https://t.co/4HKID6StNO @jmirpub #fitness
    view full post

    September 19, 2020

  • jenderton4
    @enderton_justin (Twitter)

    Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate #Fitness via https://t.co/Yd1zxcM76n https://t.co/LzKjhpOzs7
    view full post

    September 17, 2020

  • Sarah Moore
    @ParaPLAYHub (Twitter)

    Nice paper by Dr. Fuller (@walkabilly) and team: Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate. Check it out folks
    view full post

    September 9, 2020

    1

  • Helen Wong
    @HelenWongRD (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 9, 2020

    11


  • @ThePAWSLab (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 9, 2020

    11

  • Denver Brown
    @TheDenverBrown (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 9, 2020

    11

  • Marquis
    @MarkJask (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 9, 2020

    11

  • Andy Yan | @ayan604.bsky.social
    @Ayan604 (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 9, 2020

    11

  • GeoHealth Network
    @GeoHlthNetwork (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 9, 2020

    11

  • Aaron Kandola
    @KandolaAaron (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 9, 2020

    11

  • Brianne Chafe
    @chafe_b (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 8, 2020

    11

  • Hui (Henry) Luan
    @GIS_Luan (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 8, 2020

    11

  • Trisalyn Nelson
    @TrisalynNelson (Twitter)

    RT @walkabilly: #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of…
    view full post

    September 8, 2020

    11

  • Daniel Fuller
    @walkabilly (Twitter)

    #newpaper OMG this has been 4 years in the making. To my knowledge the largest and most comprehensive #systematicreview of the reliability and validity of commercial wearable devices. https://t.co/F4mKLBFvQi @MemorialHKR @MemorialU @CRC_CRC @CIHR_IRSC
    view full post

    September 8, 2020

    51

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  • JMIR Publications
    @jmirpub (Twitter)

    New in JMIR mhealth: Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available #Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: Systematic Review https://t.co/h06GNIWPBo https://t.co/lRzVjnNCkF
    view full post

    September 8, 2020

    5

Abstract Synopsis

  • This systematic review analyzed the accuracy and consistency of popular wearable devices like Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Samsung in measuring steps, heart rate, and energy expenditure.
  • The study found that wearables generally provide accurate step and heart rate data in lab settings, but their reliability varies by brand, with some devices tending to underestimate certain measures.
  • No wearable device was found to be reliably accurate for estimating energy expenditure, and ongoing updates to device models highlight the need for continued research to evaluate their performance.]